You may have heard me banging on about this for the past 6 months but because his name is now in the spotlight it has more impact, Jason Day IS Australian golf’s next global ambassador.

The 10-year search for someone to fill the shoes of Greg Norman is over.

No, I’m not saying Jason Day is Greg Norman, he’s not, he’s very much his own person. But he has the talent to consistently contend in majors as the second place finshes at the Masters & US Open have confirmed.

Question, who’s the only player – in the world – to have recorded top 10s in the last three majors? Yep, Jason Day and he’s only 23. Better still he’s only played in four of them!

On Tuesday at Congressional ahead of his US Open debut, I asked him "what it is about the big stage, that you seem to enjoy so much?" His response was confident but not arrogant, "I like playing in front of big crowds, in big championships against the best players in the world, on the toughest golf courses, these events suit my game."

Don’t they what!

The tougher the course, the harder the situation, the better he plays. It’s the reason he was able to produce birdies at 17 & 18 at Augusta when he needed them to tie Adam Scott. How he was able to play the last 45 holes of the US Open bogey free, even when he was struggling to hit fairways & greens in regulation.

However, the Queenslander is much more than the great results he’s been posting on the PGA Tour for the past 18 months. After sitting down with him & Col Swatton, his coach/caddie/mentor at The Players back in May for an extended interview, I found Day to be mature well beyond his years, refreshingly honest but comfortable in his own skin.

We spoke about the challenges he faced growing up, including losing his father Alvin to stomach cancer? when he was 12. How his life changed when Swatton, saw his potential at a golf boarding school in Brisbane & guided him down the right path. What he feels his destiny is & where life has taken him.

Each response was consistent with his mindset, he wants to be the best. But he’ll be content if that doesn’t happen because he knows he’ll have tried as hard as he possible could.

His work ethic is very impressive. Gen Y is known as the "instant gratification" generation but Day is different, he’s from the old school. He’s not into twitter & any form of social media and he’s happy to work his tail off because he knows, he’ll be rewarded down the track.

Swatton was best man at his wedding and knows him better than most and when quizzed about Jason Day, the person, said "As good as Jase is as a player, he’s an even better person. I don’t think Australia could find a better ambassador."

"My dad told me to be nice to everyone, that’s one of the biggest lessons he taught me." Day said to the world media after finishing runner up to Rory McIlroy at the US Open.

Incredibly, Day was close to quitting back in February as he grew frustrated with the game and the spotlight that comes with it. In stepped Neale Smith, an Australian Sports psychologist who works with a few players on the PGA Tour.

"I sat down with my team and worked out what makes me happy and its not the millions of dollars I can win on the PGA Tour, it’s about the wins. I want to win because that takes care of everything else." Day said.

Day is now 9th in the world, rest assured he get to no.1 one day because consistency is rewarded in the rankings, Lee Westwood & Luke Donald are prime examples. And that in turn will be a huge boost for the game back here in Australia.

And that all sets up and exciting month of golf in November when Day plays in the Australian Open, Presidents Cup & Australian PGA in consecutive weeks. And who knows, in 10-15-20 years from now some kids who got to see him play will be our next generation of stars.